Photo by Tom Kimmell Photography

Taylor Chace scored three goals, including two in a 41-second span, in a 9-1 defeat of Germany at the USA Cup in Colorado Springs.

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – After a relatively slow start, the U.S. Paralympic Sled Hockey Team got its offense firing on all cylinders Friday night, scoring four goals in the second period and four more in the third on their way to a 9-1 win over Germany in the fourth game of the USA Cup at the World Arena in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Taylor Chace (Hampton Falls, N.H.) recorded a hat trick and Joe Howard (Kingston, Mass.) had two goals and two assists in the win, which secured a spot for the U.S. in the USA Cup championship game Sunday morning against Canada.

Alexi Salamone (Grand Island, N.Y.) started the scoring for the U.S., finding a path to the front of the net and flipping home a right-handed wrist shot to host squad a 1-0 lead with just under three minutes to go in the period.

Chris Manns (Buffalo, N.Y.) scored what would be the game-winner just 26 seconds into the second period. Manns worked his way to the front of the net, took control of a loose puck, and backhanded a shot over German goalie Alexander Klein to make it a 2-0 U.S. lead.

After a Germany goal that cut the lead in half midway through the second period, the U.S. offense came alive. Howard took the puck along the boards in the offensive zone, skated up to the blue line, then found an open lane to the net. His shot found the top left corner of the net, giving the U.S. a 3-1 lead, and the rout was on.

Brad Emmerson (Amherst, N.Y.) and Chace scored goals within a 76-second span, and the U.S. suddenly had a 5-1 lead after two periods.

After Tim Jones (Mt. Ephraim, N.J.) scored an unassisted goal to make it 6-1, Chace scored back-to-back goals in 41 seconds to complete the hat trick and make it a seven-goal lead. Howard closed out the scoring with 3:30 to play in the third.

After the game, Howard, who serves as the team captain, said he was excited about what the game could mean for the team.

“It’s definitely a confidence builder for some of our young guys,” Howard said. “This is the kind of game we can play, and it’s good to see it come together.”

With the win, the U.S. moved to 2-1 in tournament play, while Germany fell to 0-3, eliminating them from championship contention. Canada, who remains unbeaten at 2-0, beat the Germans, 3-0, on Friday morning.

Scoring

First Period

1. USA - Salamone (James Connelly), 12:13

Second Period

2. USA – Manns, :26
3. Germany – Matthias Koch (Sebastian Kessler), 7:28
4. USA – Howard, 9:42
5. USA – Emmerson (Lonnie Hannah, Howard), 12:42
6. USA – Chace (Manns), 13:58

Third Period

7. USA – Jones, 5:17
8. USA – Chace 2 (Howard), 7:55 (pp)
9. USA – Chace 3 (Connelly), 8:36
10. USA – Howard 2 (Kip St. Germaine), 11:30

Goaltending - Cash (USA) - 9 saves, Klein (GER) - 11 saves

USA Cup Schedule

Feb. 9, 9:00 a.m. - Canada 3, USA 0
Feb. 9, 6:00 p.m. - USA 3, Germany 2
Feb. 10, 8:30 a.m. - Canada v. Germany
Feb. 10, 4:30 p.m. - USA v. Germany
Feb. 11, 10:00 a.m. - Germany v. Canada
Feb. 11, 7:00 p.m. - USA v. Canada
Feb. 12, 10:00 a.m. - Championship Game